bunch o' stuff
May. 25th, 2006 10:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabotabbyGood morning! Let's start off with some good news!
First off, as predicted, the National Post has retracted the story about Iranian Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians having to wear coloured badges. Now Harper is in trouble for believing them. This is great news for everyone: Iranian religious minorities, reality-based Canadians, and anyone who likes to see the Post get pwned.
Speaking of unconfirmed reports, it seems that TTC drivers aren't going to make us pay to ride buses and streetcars. I say unconfirmed because I took two streetcars this morning and no one seemed to be riding for free. It seemed a bit impolite to ask the drivers. Anyway, does anyone know if this is true? Because if so: Best. Job action. Ever.
It seemed like a lot of people liked my post yesterday about my Zionist relatives flying off the handle. (Question: What triggered the avalanche of comments? Usually my political posts don't get that much discussion, so is it the family drama element?) Here's an update.
I e-mailed my aunt back, as promised, with the last two sentences of that post. She wrote me back!
Finally, I stayed up late last night because there was a fascinating discussion on Alas, a blog and Pandagon (and various other places) about using birth control pills to stop your period.
I think the issue for feminists can be very cut-and-dry: We ought to be as informed as possible, and then we should all make our own choices. This seems to be difficult for the woo-woo nature crowd to comprehend, though, and they seem to think that this is yet another attempt by evil drug companies to make women hate our bodies.
Every woman I've ever known who has said anything along the lines of: "I love having my period," "It makes me feel empowered!" "I feel connected with nature," etc., has had light, regular periods, no PMS symptoms, and no painful cramps. I fucking hate people like that. Bully for you. If they made a safe pill that would eliminate periods, I'd take it. Hell, I'd take it even if it rendered me infertile. It'd be a fair trade-off. The only reason why I don't do the birth control pill now is because it tends to make me try to kill myself. (There's a good story about this, but I think it belongs in my upcoming mental illness post, not here.)
Every month, various "feminine hygiene" companies, all of which are as evil as pharmaceutical companies, I'm sure, make a tidy profit off my misery. Advil also makes a nice sum, because in order to function—not just to go to work, but to get out of bed and walk around—I have to take four painkillers several times a day. I typically go through a large bottle a month. I don't feel in touch with my womanhood. I feel homicidal.
The nature-lovers—I don't call them feminists, by the way, as they seem to equate a person's womanhood with her fertilty—have no solutions for this. They recommend changes in diet (although my diet's pretty healthy), exercise (ignoring the fact that I'm in too much pain around then to stand straight, let alone exercise), and, as always, vitamins. Vitamins are the solution for everything. I think woo-woo nature-heads get pay-offs from the vitamin companies or something.
Oh, and cut out caffeine. As if that's a solution for a working woman.
Fuck people like that. They're not feminists. A transgendered woman is still a woman, can still be a feminist, and she'll never get her period. Same with women with hysterectomies and women who've gone through menopause. Same with me, if they ever invent a way to get rid of my period. I don't hate my body or my femininity. I'm not "medicalizing a natural occurrence." I'm making informed decisions, should options be presented to me.
Amanda's dead-on: This argument is not really any different than that of the Christian Right. A woman is only as good as the babies she can theoretically spawn. Shrouding it in some sort of pseudofeminist rhetoric doesn't change anything.
First off, as predicted, the National Post has retracted the story about Iranian Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians having to wear coloured badges. Now Harper is in trouble for believing them. This is great news for everyone: Iranian religious minorities, reality-based Canadians, and anyone who likes to see the Post get pwned.
Speaking of unconfirmed reports, it seems that TTC drivers aren't going to make us pay to ride buses and streetcars. I say unconfirmed because I took two streetcars this morning and no one seemed to be riding for free. It seemed a bit impolite to ask the drivers. Anyway, does anyone know if this is true? Because if so: Best. Job action. Ever.
It seemed like a lot of people liked my post yesterday about my Zionist relatives flying off the handle. (Question: What triggered the avalanche of comments? Usually my political posts don't get that much discussion, so is it the family drama element?) Here's an update.
I e-mailed my aunt back, as promised, with the last two sentences of that post. She wrote me back!
I don't have to examine anything. I know where I stand and what I stand for and it is Israel's survival. The Palestinians were offered everything and they turned it down. The only people who will look after us is US!!!!!!! Wake up and smell the roses before it is too late."I don't have to examine anything." My point is made, yes?
Finally, I stayed up late last night because there was a fascinating discussion on Alas, a blog and Pandagon (and various other places) about using birth control pills to stop your period.
I think the issue for feminists can be very cut-and-dry: We ought to be as informed as possible, and then we should all make our own choices. This seems to be difficult for the woo-woo nature crowd to comprehend, though, and they seem to think that this is yet another attempt by evil drug companies to make women hate our bodies.
Every woman I've ever known who has said anything along the lines of: "I love having my period," "It makes me feel empowered!" "I feel connected with nature," etc., has had light, regular periods, no PMS symptoms, and no painful cramps. I fucking hate people like that. Bully for you. If they made a safe pill that would eliminate periods, I'd take it. Hell, I'd take it even if it rendered me infertile. It'd be a fair trade-off. The only reason why I don't do the birth control pill now is because it tends to make me try to kill myself. (There's a good story about this, but I think it belongs in my upcoming mental illness post, not here.)
Every month, various "feminine hygiene" companies, all of which are as evil as pharmaceutical companies, I'm sure, make a tidy profit off my misery. Advil also makes a nice sum, because in order to function—not just to go to work, but to get out of bed and walk around—I have to take four painkillers several times a day. I typically go through a large bottle a month. I don't feel in touch with my womanhood. I feel homicidal.
The nature-lovers—I don't call them feminists, by the way, as they seem to equate a person's womanhood with her fertilty—have no solutions for this. They recommend changes in diet (although my diet's pretty healthy), exercise (ignoring the fact that I'm in too much pain around then to stand straight, let alone exercise), and, as always, vitamins. Vitamins are the solution for everything. I think woo-woo nature-heads get pay-offs from the vitamin companies or something.
Oh, and cut out caffeine. As if that's a solution for a working woman.
Fuck people like that. They're not feminists. A transgendered woman is still a woman, can still be a feminist, and she'll never get her period. Same with women with hysterectomies and women who've gone through menopause. Same with me, if they ever invent a way to get rid of my period. I don't hate my body or my femininity. I'm not "medicalizing a natural occurrence." I'm making informed decisions, should options be presented to me.
Amanda's dead-on: This argument is not really any different than that of the Christian Right. A woman is only as good as the babies she can theoretically spawn. Shrouding it in some sort of pseudofeminist rhetoric doesn't change anything.
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no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:43 pm (UTC)To do with the second thing you said:
I agree with what you are saying in terms of not reducing it to some biologically essentialist "having periods is what makes us woman!!!" bullcrap. I also agree that this kind of argument can make people such as yourself and others feel totally alienated and weird because OMG they dont like cramps or having their periods! But I can also recognize the need for such an argument or even that different people feel differently about things and DO like their periods (again, as long as they dont do either of the aformentioned) because of how much society and especially advertisements for menstrual products DO see it as something dirty/unclean, embarrasing and in need of hiding. I'm kind of in the middle, myself. I DEFINITELY dont think "it makes me a woman!" and dont celebrate it and LOVE it coming, but I dont mind it either and Im trying to unlearn being grossed out by it, etc. I also started using a Diva Cup a while ago and I love the Diva Cup way more than tampons, etc which I am very glad I will never have to buy again!
Again though, this:
A transgendered woman is still a woman, can still be a feminist, and she'll never get her period. Same with women with hysterectomies and women who've gone through menopause. Same with me, if they ever invent a way to get rid of my period. I don't hate my body or my femininity. I'm not "medicalizing a natural occurrence." I'm making informed decisions, should options be presented to me.
I COMPLETELY agree with and you're right, anyone who says otherwise is not a feminist!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:58 pm (UTC)I'd never question a woman's right to enjoy her period or celebrate it or whatever. Admittedly, I'm jealous, because I'm barely functional for a week a month, and I'd really like to have that week. I just get irked at the suggestion that because some women feel that way, I am somehow not as feminist or disempowered or a tool of the patriarchy for, well, not feeling that way.
I don't use tampons either. I'm not convinced that it's possible to make a safe one.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:45 pm (UTC)Holy fuck, are we the same person?? My dad and his side of the family are SUPER conservative pro-Israel zionist... We cant even talk about it anymore ebcause it results in us getting into a screaming match argument and me crying.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:56 pm (UTC)My father's side of the family is pretty left-wing, in terms of non-Israel-type politics. He ran for the NDP a few times (they were fairly dumb to allow him as a candidate, but whatever). Basically, they cling to default positions on any major issue and don't question themselves as to why they believe what they do.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:01 pm (UTC)Hence, I am still suffering every month. But I reserve the right to keep my options open.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:04 pm (UTC)That is beautiful. Cause as soon as you make up your mind about something, the situation ceases to change, or even be multifaceted, and no longer requires questioning or reexamination. Clearly.
The only people who will look after us is US!!!!!!!
Did she mean "us", or "the U.S."? I'm not being a smartass even, I'm just not sure...
You should reply "I don't have to smell anything, I know what roses smell like. I read all about it once."
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:15 pm (UTC)Although your response would be awesome as hell.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 05:03 pm (UTC)And if she's so keen on Israel's survival, why isn't she, oh I don't know, living there and paying taxes there and building hospitals or some such?
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:10 pm (UTC)I used to take birth control hormones, and I just hated it. I gained weight, I felt weird, I was moody, it cost money, and they lead to increased risk of stroke, etc. I guess I just think it's a little unsettling that people can just opt out of periods. I TOTALLY understand if their periods are ridiculously intense. And even if they aren't, it's not for me to say who deserves to opt out and who doesn't.
I just hate, hate, hate pumping extra hormones into my body, and prefer to stay the way I am for now, if that makes sense. But more power to women if they make informed decisions about skipping periods.
I do agree, people have money to make off our periods. Not to mention the massive amount of waste most women generate with bulky pads, etc, assuming they do not choose eco-friendly period products, of course. But drug companies will benefit from our no-periods too, it seems. So, meh, I think it's a draw?
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:19 pm (UTC)It's an entire hypothetical debate for me, given this. I really don't want to generate profit for any of these asshats.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:11 pm (UTC)I find taking calcium/magnesium supplements helps enough with my cramps and PMS nowadays, but as a teenager I got really awful cramps. That's what I first went on the pill for. I have a friend who stays on the pill as much as possible to prevent her period. When she gets it, she bleeds heavily for two weeks. She's disabled, so all that time changing pads is a very major pain in the ass - imagine it taking half an hour every time you had to change, during a heavy flow. She gets appalling mood swings. If she wants to stay on the pill to prevent that, who the hell can blame her!
Anyway, basically I agree with you - it should be a matter of choice, with as much information provided as possible.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:26 pm (UTC)i tend to agree with
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:42 pm (UTC)I don't know about diet, because I'm vegetarian, I barely eat any sugar or fat, and I get lots of fruits and veggies. Weight hasn't made a difference, at least in my case—I've been overweight, average, and slightly underweight, and it's always been hell. Exercise, to the extent that I'm capable of it, hasn't made a difference, other than that I can't exercise for most of my period because of the pain. I've never entirely cut out caffeine, but I've gone down to one cup of coffee a day. No difference.
Advil made a difference. ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:54 pm (UTC)lifestyle isn't entirely unrelated to our periods; amenorrhea is a common result of anorexia, for example. but a lot of these new age types want us to believe that if our periods are terrible, it's our own fault, which is really just insulting. it reminds me a bit of people who claim that depression and other mental illnesses can be controlled by a better diet. obviously lifestyle improvements can have a great impact on general well-being, but that certainly isn't always the case. illness is illness, after all, not just a symptom of a shitty diet.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 04:48 pm (UTC)I think you have a point here.
I posted a while back about my belief that not being able to talk about our periods as just something that happens, and whose effects are real and not shameful or dirty is way harmful to feminist causes. If we mystify and render something taboo, then we remove it from discourse as something that can be both discussed and dealt with.
My period causes me pain and makes me tired. PMS also makes me grouchy and weepy. Anyone who hopes to work with me should probably be aware of these health and behaviour factors. I should be able to talk about them as frankly as I talk about the odd migraine that flattens me. Nobody expects me to keep editing and staring at a computer screen when I'm getting squirmy light-things at the corners of my vision and light hurts my eyes. I make up the work after the migraine goes away.
Why then should I be expected to deal well with a lengthy author meeting when I'm pre-menstrual without at least being able to say to my colleagues "Sorry, guys, I'm PMSing today—can someone else handle the hostile author?"
Being able to talk frankly about something is not the same as being proud of it, or saying that it connects one to one's feminity. Intelligent discussion can't happen when the subject of discussion is shrouded in mysticism and taboo.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 11:53 pm (UTC)And the fact that
It's a bodily function. Period.
(har, har)
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 09:16 pm (UTC)We've come completely the other extreme from "I'll go segregate myself to the period room for a couple days, for I am currently impure and dirty!"
I think mistaking equality for equity has some responsibility in this state of affairs.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:41 pm (UTC)Three weeks straight of not having blood come out of me? Now THAT makes me feel powerful. I'll thank birth control for that thank-you-very-freakin'-much.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 06:42 pm (UTC)A week to two weeks every month I feel it in a real way, emotionally, physically, what have you.
For 6 to 24 hours every month I enter a pain level so out of control I MUST be home with access to a toilet, a bath, and hopefully weed. I get anemic and standing up can render me unconcious. Durring this time I can not keep things in my stomach. I used to be able to - I no longer can.
This includes water.
I end up so dehydrated that I will keep chapstick on hand and wet my lips when it gets really bad - but if I even take a sip I will be puking within minutes.
I used to take tylenol 3 (with codine) - by fistfulls one day a month. Eventually my body started rejecting them and (seeing as how I can't keep water down) I had to give them up. This is why weed is the only thing that works - I don't have to swallow it. Still though, there are times the pain is so bad I can't smoke.
This has ALWAYS been a problem with my work situations. Current one included. I work with a male boss who can't even THINK about my reality. What he wants me to do is warn him exactly when each month I will need to call in (I answer the phones and our company dies when I am not here). Problem is, while I get days and days of warning, I don't know when it's gonna hit. From the moment I start bleeding I have between 30 min and an hour to get myself home. When I am 45 from home this means dropping everything suddenly and leaving.
I have taken half a dozen forms of BC but nothing for over 5 years. Each pill did in fact make this pain better. They regulated my day so I could plan for it better - and in some cases I was able to WORK on my bad day. In exchange for this magic relief I became a raving lunatic 365 days a year. It was basically like permanent pms - I would cry about EVERYTHING and my downs were so intense I would call into work anyway.
I finally decided the pain was better then insanity.
HOLY FUCKING RAMBLING!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5015518.stm
In related news.
The Pope is in town so ice cream and tampons are out!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 06:53 pm (UTC)While I have tried to "embrace my moon" and howl at the sky and get in touch with my cervix and bullshit - it ain't working. Once a month I want the fucking thing OUT - I want to be something other then a woman.
The thing is, I also understand where the need to reclaim shit comes from. It's a backlash and it's necessary - but HOLY shit if I don't wanna choke some hippies.
I am also TERRIFIED of the wonders of modern science. IUDs (which I don't totally understand) are fucking scary as hell - and taking pills to do away with the growing and shedding of my uterin lining just don't make a lot of sense to me.
While it is horrible and something i will continue to face in a battle to the death each and every fucking month - I would be much more afraid of conquering it and what the consequences might be.
This is coming from someone who feels contractions the first day - and who feels her skeleton change in the week before and after.
Still though, my body seems to know what it is doing - even if it sucks at it.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 11:52 pm (UTC)Holy shit!!!!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 11:57 pm (UTC)The next few days of bleeding are a cake walk in comparison. Except I'm worn out so I walk like I'm 80 and pick things up with my toes instead of bending anything.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:05 pm (UTC)http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196685,00.html
and (speaking of dicks) Kenny Boy is in trouble (mayhaps).
http://blogs.chron.com/enrontrialwatch/
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 11:56 pm (UTC)Every month my period has been different.
Last week I had it...but I had it barely. I don't like my period, but it *does* feel wrong not to have it. Going without it would make me feel off balance.
I don't think it would ever be possible to get rid of one's period w/o causing other damage or imbalances. I'm not interested in the kind of scifi universe that would do such a thing ;).
But, no I don't think it's mystical. It's just one of the shared female miseries such as environmental disorder and rheumatoid arthritis :). But it serves a purpose.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:41 am (UTC)So, getting rid of entire cycle might work for some females who aren't really sensitive to big changes in their bodies (lucky for them!) but in the long run it's not a very good thing.
Now, if your body is rebelling against you naturally and is causing you issues, that's when tinkering does the least harm. But, to create an imbalance on purpose, like I said, some women can handle it. Must be nice. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-05-25 11:59 pm (UTC)Your period is when the lining of your uterus is sloughed off, not some egg. The egg ovulates in the middle of the cycle, and the period is the end, where the unused lining sloughs off.
Has this person ever read a freaking book or sat through a puberty class in school?
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:05 am (UTC)Then again, I didn't know that the period you get on the pill isn't a real period. So I shouldn't talk.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:35 am (UTC)See, the hormones of the pill tell your body you are pregnant. When you stop for that week those hormones go away, so your body gives a natural period, because it no longer "needs" that lining.
The woman who wrote that article probably had a point, but she doesn't know what she's talking about regardless :).
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:33 pm (UTC)Not being a science person, I have no idea how accurate that is.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 02:27 am (UTC)Good call. I hate those hippies.
Re-birth control pills, I found that most trigger depressive episodes in me, but there was one type that didn't. However, when combined with my SSRIs, it has other effects, so I stopped taking it. I guess it's a question of what works for you, and how much it's worth to experiment trying to find the right BC, especially if most have negative effects.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-26 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 08:18 pm (UTC)>>>>>>Yes, our protection is the only thing keeping you from being overrun by a dictorship of Nazi Polar Bears. Be very thankful.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-29 01:45 pm (UTC)